LUDHIANA: A leading Human Rights Organization based in Punjab, the THRO, has blamed the Indian government for launching an all-out attack on Sikh lawyers, human rights activists and prominent leaders to insure silence. The State machinery has been geared to achieve this goal cither by threats or outright elimination.
In a detailed report released from Ludhiana, the IHRO has documented cases of killing of lawyers like Kulwant Singh, Jagwinder Singh and Ranbir Singh in the last few months. The report says that these were not isolated cases but part of a well-planned and sinister Strategy to muffle dissent in Punjab. The report documents the case of respected Human rights activists like Justice Ajit Singh Bains, a former high court judge and journalists like Sukhdev Singh who were imprisoned for months only because they spoke out against the repressive policies of the government.
Political leaders like Simranjit Singh Mann fear they might be eliminated at any time. Beant Singh says the THRO report is a warning to political leaders like G.S.Tohra and Simranjit Singh Mann to keep quiet or be prepared to face dire consequences. Mohinder Singh Gill and D.S.Gill of the THRO are being terrorized by the Government’s illegenee agencies in an effort to silence them.
Our correspondent reports that the Indian Government has stepped up its efforts to silence the THRO and Sikh Intelligentsia to escape the embarrassment it has to face due to reports filtered out to the world media about the State oppression and the brutalities it inflicts on the Sikhs.
Article extracted from this publication >> April 16, 1993
